WTE & Recycling WTE & Recycling in Massachusettsin Massachusetts

Municipal Waste Management Association

October 22, 2003 Shawn Worster

Executive Director, NESWC

Director, KEMA- Xenergy, Inc.

Overview Overview

BackgroundIntegrated Waste Management in

Massachusetts The NESWC Experience Conclusion

BACKGROUNDBACKGROUND

351 Cities and Towns Over 6 million population Generate over 8 million tons of MSWCommonwealth has for over a decade had a

Solid Waste Master Plan in place that guides municipal waste management program planning

Master Plan Goal 1990’s Master Plan Goal 1990’s

  10% source reduced

For MSW that is generated:     46% recycled,     50% combusted with energy recovery,     4% landfilled.

Since 1988, the Commonwealth maintained an overall solid waste disposal policy that attempted to limit disposal capacity to disposal need within the state

How waste was managed How waste was managed 1990-19991990-1999

Recycling/Composting

Combustion

Landfill

Net Export

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999

Year

To

ns

(in

millio

ns

)

How waste was managed How waste was managed 1990-19991990-1999

Table 1-1: Where are We Relative to the 2000 Goals?

  1990 1999 2000 Goals

Recycled 10% 38% 46%

Combusted 44% 36% 50%

Landfilled 46% 12% 4%

Net Import (-) / Export (+) * 14%(+) 0%

Note: Recycled includes estimates of backyard composting. •Data not available. Between 1990 and 1994, Massachusetts was an overall net importer of solid waste. Massachusetts has been a net exporter of solid waste since 1995.•Solid Waste Master Plan

BACKGROUND (cont) BACKGROUND (cont)

Seven waste to energy facilities Over 1/3 of Municipalities in long term

contracts Over 9000 tpd of installed capacity Represents over 200 MW of generating

capacity, enough to power 200,000 homes Provides almost 3 millions tons per year of

much needed in state disposal capacity

Background (cont) Background (cont)

                        Table 2-2: Municipal Recycling Rates  

Municipalities Achieving…

FY95 FY96 FY97 FY98 FY99

 

> 30% 124 150 181 181 182

20-29% 106 114 86 90 82

10-19% 79 60 53 46 43

5-9% 19 15 12 11 13

< 5%          

Not included due to

incomplete data

23 12 19 23 31

 Source: Beyond 2000 Master Plan

Current Status Current Status State continues to have aggressive goals re

integrated waste management Beyond 2000 Solid Waste Master Plan calls for

– 70 % reduction in waste produced by the year 2010 through source reduction and recycling (60 % MSW and 88% C & D)

– “ . . . we must reduce the amount of waste produced, reuse and recycle as much as possible, take out the toxics, and dispose of what is left in a way that protects public health and the environment. “

Beyond 2000 Goals Beyond 2000 Goals

Beyond 2000 Plan included goals in – Source reduction

Product Stewardship Initiative Increase backyard composting of yard, food, and paper waste. Promote Pay-As-You-Throw municipal trash programs. Promote material exchange networks and other opportunities

for reuse of products. Promote source reduction concepts in building design and

construction. Provide education and technical assistance to consumers and

businesses on how they can reduce the amount of waste they generate.

Beyond 2000 GoalsBeyond 2000 Goals Toxicity Reduction

– Use the Product Stewardship Initiative to reduce toxics in products and packaging and ensure proper post-consumer collection and recycling / reuse.

– Pursue key toxics reduction legislation – Expand household hazardous products collection

efforts (including convenient collection programs, local and regional permanent collection centers).

– Promote Environmentally Preferable Products purchasing.

– Implement the Massachusetts Zero Mercury Strategy

Beyond 2000 GoalsBeyond 2000 Goals Recycling

– Product Stewardship Initiative to increase the recyclability of products and packaging.

– Pursue legislation requiring that residents in multi-family units be provided with access to recycling.

– Enhance enforcement of waste bans.– Promote Pay-As-You-Throw municipal trash programs.– Continue to provide grants, incentives, and other assistance to

municipalities for recycling programs.– Increase efforts to expand sustainable markets for recyclables.– Implement a statewide recycling education campaign to

increase participation in recycling programs.

Beyond 2000 GoalsBeyond 2000 GoalsRecycling (cont)

– Provide recycling education and technical assistance to businesses and the construction industry.

– Ban disposal of unprocessed C&D.– Continue to support increases in Clean

Environment Fund spending on recycling programs and work to eliminate provisions that limit spending flexibility.

Where we are today Where we are today

Fiscal pressures affecting all aspects of municipal services

State has eliminated several grant programs and pulled the CEF funds

Despite that, municipalities continue to provide integrated waste management services

The NESWC Experience 23 NESWC Communities

1. Acton2. Andover3. Arlington4. Bedford 5. Belmont6. Boxborough7. Burlington8. Carlisle9. Dracut10. Hamilton11. Lexington12. Lincoln13. Manchester-by-the-Sea14. North Andover15. North Reading16. Peabody17. Tewksbury18. Watertown19. Wenham20. Westford21. West Newbury22. Wilmington23. Winchester * WNA Facility

21

1019

13

16

14

*

2

9

17

20

8

6

15

22

74

1211 23

3

5

18

1

21

1019

13

16

14

*

2

9

17

20

8

6

15

22

74

1211 23

3

5

18

1

BackgroundBackground North East Solid Waste Committee represents 23

communities, 450,000 citizens NESWC Communities pay among the highest tip

fee in the country, $140 per ton because of a poorly negotiated contract

Contract was negotiated by the state in the early 1980’s

Contract has many onerous provisions, including a guaranteed annual tonnage obligation

NESWC Experience NESWC Experience Despite that, the NESWC communities have aggressively pursued

recycling/source reduction programs

Served as the Pilot for the statewide Municipal Recycling Assistance Program , under which communities receive a dollar amount per ton incentive payment from the state

 Over eight years, that program and the equipment and technical assistance grants, provided over $2 million to the NESWC Communities

 Served as the host site for the first permanent regional household hazardous products facility in the state, the Minuteman Facility

 For the past six years, have served as the host entity for the North East Region 3 Municipal Recycling Coordinator, one of a half dozen statewide

NESWC Experience NESWC Experience

Current Integrated Waste Management Program includes:

5 Municipal transfer stations Permanent regional HHP Facility - Minuteman Facility in

Lexington Diverted over 150,000 gallons of HHP over past five years

Several Drop-off Recyclable Collection Sites Most communities have leaf and yard waste composting

operations Most communities offer curbside collection of recyclables Recycling rate system-wide over 30 %

What’s Next for NESWC?What’s Next for NESWC?

Recently completed post 2005 contract negotiations

$64 per ton in 2005 No GAT requirementWaste to energy will continue to be a

component of the communities’ integrated waste management programs

Conclusions Conclusions  

For the NESWC Communities, Recycling and waste to energy are compatible components of an integrated waste management system

In Massachusetts, integrated waste management consistent with the preferred hierarchy is the norm

Despite significant fiscal pressure, communities continue to manage their waste thru a balanced integrated program involving source reduction, recycling/composting and disposal, primarily at waste to energy facilities

Waste to energy facilities provide long term in-state disposal capacity while reducing our reliance on non-renewable fossil fuels and improving energy security

??Questions?? ??Questions??

Contact InformationContact Information

Shawn Worster Executive Director, NESWC

Director, KEMA-XENERGY, Inc.

Ph 781-270-5225 x 247

Fax 781-229-4867

Email: sworster@kema-xenergy.com